Report by Mick Kneale, 18^th November 2007

A very light and fickle NE breeze greeted the ten boats contesting the third Sunday morning session in the November series. The near gale on Saturday evening left a long and lazy swell, giving Bay ny Carrickey an unfamiliar feel—lots of energy in the sea but hardly any in the air. Some energy was also lacking in the sailors who had attended the club annual dinner the night before. Good job it wasn't too bright (or noisy).

A reasonable ‘P’ course was laid inside the Carrick, with a tight, down-tide start near the end of Alfred Pier. This week we welcomed another two ‘new’ entrants to the series, the National 18' of Antony Ellis and crew and Mike Pridham's Laser, bringing the total to nineteen different boats entered so far.

The National 18' showed the way round the course in both races, the big rig and long waterline a great advantage in the barely perceptible, shifty breeze. In race one the 18' managed to get far enough ahead of the ubiquitous RS200s to win by 25 seconds from Andrew and Katie Dean with Russell and June Collister a further minute back.

Race two was stitched up by the RS200s, the Deans again prevailing, with the 18' third. Mike Pridham sailed his Laser into a consistent two fourth places; Mike Wilson and Jason Corlett scored two fifth places sailing the RS400 and John Dowling got two sixth places in the Wayfarer.
The three Radials, sailed by Ali Hinds, Ben Swindlehurst and Chris Hill struggled to make any impression with their relatively small rigs. The Cope brothers Tim and Chris, rudder-stock repaired after last week's floundering, almost got on the pace in the first race. By race two, however, other bits were falling apart on the old Scorpion and they trailed the fleet by quite a margin (calendar rather than stop-watch timing). Remember the six ‘P’s, boys.

Many thanks to Mike Newby and Linda Robinson in the rescue/tug boat.

Ben Swindlehurst was presented with the IOM Junior Sailor of 2007 award at the IOMYC dinner on Saturday evening. The trophy was donated by the Isle of Man BT Global Challenge crew in 2002. It is presented annually, at the discretion of the Manx Yachting Association, to the best deserving under-21 in the sport. Well done, Ben.

Regular Race Officer Pete Hinds has had a hip replaced this week at Noble's. We all wish PJ a speedy return to duty. He must be feeling better as he is already complaining about this and that. Glad to hear it Pete.

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